Improvement in whiffletree-hooks



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIO'E.

MAGNUS MATSON, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO JNO. H. SUNDERMANN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHIFFLETREE-HOOKSI Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,721 dated August 12, 1873; application filed April 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAGNUS MA'TsoN, of Quincy, county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Whiffletrees, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention relates to snaphooks for securing the ends of traces to the ends of the whiftletrees; and the invention consists in constructing the ferrule in the form of a cap provided with a button or projection on its outer end, over which the trace may be placed and held in position by a hook, which is seated in the ferrule, and pressed into operation by a spring contained within the ferrule, the hook being held in working position without pins, lugs, or any other outer projections from the ferrule, allowing the ferrule to be turned up neatly in finishing without extra labor, all as hereinafter fully described.

Figure 1 is a top view of one end of a whiffietree embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of Fig. l on a horizontal plane.

A represents one end of an ordinary whiffletree. B is a metallic cap-ferrule, its open end fitting neatly over the end of the whiftletree, to which it is secured by a screw, 1), and its outer end formed into a button, 0, over which the tug or trace may be passed in the ordinary manner. As will be plainly seen at Fig. 2, the ferrule is so situated on the end of the whiffletree as to leave a cavity, D, at the end of the whittletree. In one side of the ferrule B a slot,

E, is cut for the reception of a hook, G, the outer end of which is curved over and rests on the button 0, and the inner end is hooked into a hole in one end of a simple C-spring, H. The spring H and the hook G are so connected that the spring will tend at all times to press back the inner end of the hook, and consequently press its outer end firmly to the button, as shown by full lines in the drawings, in

and produce a cheap, durable article, without liability of dirt, 850., getting to the inclosed spring H.

I am aware that spiral and straight springs have been used for like purposes; and do not, therefore, broadly claim the use of springs in such connection.

What I claim is- The combination of the hook G, ferrule B, I

and C-shaped spring H, the hook being seated in the slot E and having its inner end connected with the spring, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Witnesses: MAGN US MATSON.

J osErE UHLENBROGK, CHARLES WALLsTADT. 

